Ornament construction



Feb. 15, 1938. I R. c. BANGS 2,108,158

' v ORNAMENT CONSTRUCTION Filed Fb'. 14, 1935 Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES ORNAMENT CONSTRUCTION Ralph C. Bangs, Providence, R. 1., assignor t Leo K. Stupell Application February 14, 1935, Serial No. 6,529

10 Claims.

My present invention relates to the construction of ornaments, and has particular reference to lock arrangements therefor.

The ornamentation of jewelry items has included the formation of ornaments as an integral part of the item, and the construction of ornaments which are selectively attachable to an ornament base. The formation of integral ornaments is costly, as the dies and tools must be individual for each ornament; the attaching of an ornament to a base has, on the other hand, restricted the selection.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a novel construction which permits a choice of different ornaments, thus providing a wide selection.

Moreover, the ornament base, if part of a jewelry item, is necessarily restricted as to available space; an ornamental clip, for example has but 20 a small available space. It is an additional object of my invention to provide a construction whereby one, two, or more ornaments may be selectively mounted in an available base.

A further disadvantage in arrangements for receiving selected ornaments has resided in the difficulty of securing a permanent lock without riveting, soldering, or distorting the parts. It is a further object of my invention to provide a mounting arrangement which permits quick assembly and positive locking.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, my invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and more specifically defined in the appended claims.

In the drawin Fig. 1 is a plan view of an article of jewelry having an ornamental monogram mounted therein;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, the monogram being removed;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the monogram mount- 111 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one monogram letter, showing the lock points;

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the mounting of a lock point in a seating recess of an orna ment;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the lock point swaged in place and the locking action of the lock point head;

Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are respectively views of a base suitable for a flexible backing, as in a hand 55 bag, and its mounting;

Fig. 10 is a detail view showing a stamped base integral with a jewelry item, such as a vanity case cover; and

Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively plan views of a modified lock base and its lock cover. 5

It has been found desirable to provide an ornament arrangement for facilitating selection and locking of desired ornaments to jewelry items of every description. Since such items are of thin construction, and riveting or soldering is not feasible or desirable, I have provided lock points which may be set in recesses in the backs of ornaments, and swaged in place, whereby the lock points are permanently secured to the ornament backs at definite, predetermined points. I have formed these lock points of solid material, with lock heads, and I have provided bases having openings with yieldable sides, whereby the lock heads may be inserted through the openings; the bases are preferably equipped with a plurality of openings spaced to accommodate the lock points of ornaments of different sizes, whereby one, two, or more ornaments may be secured to the same base, if desired. The ornaments are thus permanently mounted, without distortion, by pressing the ornaments towards the base so as to engage the lock points with the proper openings, whereby the lock heads snap over the opening sides to prevent removal of the ornaments from the base. 30

Referring to the drawing, ornament H3, see Figs. 1 to 3, includes a frame I I having a central space l2, an ornament base l3 being secured to the back of the frame in any desired manner. This ornamental base is shown as having tongues I30, for receiving hinge and pin elements, as the illustrated ornament is a brooch. lhe ornament base has a plurality of fingers it, each with an opening l5 and a longitudinal slit l6; ornaments H, such as initial letters, have lock points it which are positioned on the back thereof, and are engageable with selected openings I5.

The lock points l8, see Figs. 5 and 6, are of solid metal, and have seats l9, shanks 2E], and conical heads 2|, the lower surfaces 22 of the heads being plane. The seats l9 have plane circular bottoms and slightly conical sides, whereby they are insertable in circular recesses 23 formed or drilled in the lower surfaces of the ornaments, the sides of the recesses being swaged, as indicated at 24 in Fig. 6, to lock the lock points in place. This mounting ensures accurate positioning of the lock points, an essential feature for fine quality articles, and eliminates use of rivets, solder, or other securing means.

When a lock head snaps through on opening IS, the edges of the opening contact the lower plane surface 22 of the head, thus preventing accidental removal of the head. The providing of a plurality of openings permits the supply of ornaments of the shape of the frame opening, or of one-half, one-third, or other multiple thereof, each ornament having its lock points accurately mounted so that one or more ornaments of proper size may be locked to the ornament base.

The jewelry item I 0 may be a brooch, a clip, a pendant, or similar item; if it is desired to ornament an article such as a hand bag or other article of flexible material, a base such as I3, but without tongues, may be secured thereto, as by sewing. If preferred, however, a plurality of individual finger bases 25, see Fig. 7, having lock prongs 26, may be secured to the material as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, by passing the prongs therethrough and bending, whereby the slits 21 and openings 28 of the finger bases are positioned to receive the heads of ornament lock points.

Or the jewelry item may be stamped to obtain integral finger elements; thus, the cover 29 of a vanity case, which is made of stamped metal, may be stamped to provide an ornament receiving recess 39 and integral finger elements 3|, each having openings 32 and slits 33.

Instead of locking ornaments directly to a base, it may be desirable, in certain constructions, to provide a base receptacle 34, see Fig. 11, having a recess 35 in which one or more ornaments or letters 36 may be seated, the receptacle 34 having slit openings 31 to receive lock heads 38 of a lock cover ring 39 which is of a width to extend over the ends of the ornament or ornaments in the recess, whereby they are locked in place.

It is thus evident that the described arrangement permits ornaments to have lock points, accurately positioned, and integrally mounted without rivets, solder, or the like, which cooperate with selected openings in an ornament base, which may be separate or integral with an item to be ornamented, the base receiving one ornament of a size to fit an ornament space, or several ornaments which fill the space, the ornament or ornaments being locked to the base. This construction is particularly suitable for use with ornaments having stones, as there is no distortion of the ornament, and there is no tendency for displacement or loosening of the stones. It is thus evident that the invention includes the provision of lock points on ornaments, which cooperate with a universal base, thus permitting selection of one or more ornaments which are securable to the universal base.

While I have described specific constructional embodiments of my invention, it is obvious that desired changes in the arrangement and size of the parts, and in their mounting, may be made to suit the requirements for different ornament designs, within the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, an ornament having lock points, a base element having a space for receiving said ornament, and a plurality of adjacent aligned fingers extending from said base element into said space, each finger having an opening with resilient edges.

2. In combination, an ornament having lock points, a base element having a space for receiving said ornament, and a plurality of adjacent aligned fingers extending from said base element into said space, each finger having a slitted opening with resilient edges.

3. In an ornament construction, circular recesses in the rear surface thereof, and points having conical bases and heads tapering towards the head end, said bases being locked in said recesses.

4. A metallic lock point for an ornament, having a base portion, a shank portion, and a. head portion, said head portion being pointed and having a flat under surface.

5. A metallic lock point for an ornament, having a conical base portion, a shank portion, and. a conical head portion, said base portion tapering towards the head portion and said head portion having a flat under surface.

6. A metallic lock point for an ornament, having a conical base portion with a fiat lower surface, a tapered shank portion, and a conical head portion, said base portion tapering towards the head portion and said head portion having a flat under surface.

7. In combination, a base receptacle having a recess, an ornament seated in said recess, said base having snap head receiving openings with resilient edges, and a cover member having snap heads adapted to enter said openings, said cover member extending over parts of said ornament to lock said ornament in said recess.

8. In combination, a base receptacle having a recess, an ornament seated in said recess, said base having lock head receiving openings with resilient edges, and a cover member having lock heads adapted to enter said openings, said cover member extending over parts of said ornament to lock said ornament in said recess.

9. In combination, a base member having an ornament receiving recess, an ornament seated in said recess, and a cover member, one of said members having snap head receiving elements with resilient edges, and the other member having snap heads adapted to lockingly engage said elements, said cover member extending over said ornament to lock said ornament in said recess.

10. In combination, a base member having an ornament receiving recess, an ornament seated in said recess, and a cover member, one of said members having snap head receiving openings with resilient edges, and the other member having snap heads adapted to lockingly engage said openings, said cover member extending over said ornament to lock said ornament in said recess.

RALPH C. BANGS. 

